Iker Casillas stepped on the grass of O Dragao, Porto's spectacular stadium, on Wednesday. And so far the main news of these lines, so apparently futile, so repeated throughout an exceptional career of more than two decades that it seems to have no relevance. But for months now, any action, ordinary or not, by Casillas has taken on a special meaning. Specifically 14 and a half months, since that unfortunate May 1 in which a heart attack surprised him in the middle of training, completely stopping his career as footballers. The news, therefore, requires a capital nuance: Iker Casillas stepped on the grass of O Dragao on Wednesday ... for the first time in almost 15 months.

The forced and atypical end of exceptionality deserved the occasion. With two days to go before the end of the Portuguese League, Porto mathematically sealed the first position after winning Sporting de Portugal (2-0), thus recovering the supremacy seized by Benfica last year. For the world champion it is his seventh league title, the second he has achieved at the Portuguese club. It will already be, with total security, the last one to incorporate its brand-new honors, although it has not been able to participate in any game of this course as a consequence of that heart attack.

Or if?

Because, and this admits no doubt, his farewell is not up to his legend, at least for the moment. The medical reasons are of weight and its evaluation is not within the reach of the laymen in the matter. There is, however, a small gap so that both circumstances, your health and an opportunity for one last goodbye, find a point of agreement. The idea, according to Eurosport, in which Casillas can jump onto the field in one of the last two games remaining for Porto. The meeting next Monday seems the most suitable for it, since the rival is Moreirense, who will go to O Dragao without qualifying goals, already saved and without European aspirations.

Porto wants it to be so and Casillas, who has a record, is also in tune. Eurosport itself also reported that the doorman is discharged, so there would be no greater impediments. It would be, in any case, an almost symbolic farewell in which the world champion would take the field in the discount, with just enough time to savor the feeling of being a professional soccer player for the last time. Although, it should be remembered for what could happen, Casillas at no time has said that football has withdrawn or is going to do so imminently, as obvious as it is for everyone.

"I would like to play right now, but, as much as it depends on me, it also depends on the doctors and the club," said Casillas at the foot of the field during an atypical celebration, both due to the forced absence of the public in the stands. , as for the role it has had throughout the course. So far, his last game is a draw at the Río Ave visit on April 26, 2019. Six days earlier, he had participated in the 1-0 victory with Santa Clara.

«It had been 15 months since I had stepped on Dragao again and I have to admit that I got excited again. A pasito for the area. A panoramic view of the field. A more lasting look at the goals. Many memories and feelings. I am extremely happy for the championship achieved, the players and the club deserve it, "he published yesterday on his Instagram account along with the photograph that illustrates these lines. And, without playing, nothing is the same, as the goalkeeper himself explained on the field: "The champions are them [their teammates], I just feel like a champion as another goalkeeper."

However, Casillas will still have the possibility of adding a new title to his showcases, since Porto will play the Cup final in Coimbra on August 1 against Benfica. Then, predictably, will come the announcement that has been in the football stalls for several months: his final retirement from football, now 39 years old. The unknown lies more in the after. Self-discarded from the impossible fight to defeat Luis Rubiales and access the RFEF presidency, Iker ponders what to do from now on. He knows that he will always have a place in Porto, but he and his family seem more inclined to return to Madrid. To Real Madrid? That is another story for another day.

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  • Real Madrid
  • Iker Casillas
  • Portugal
  • Luis Rubiales
  • Portuguese league
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